CUSCO - PERÚ
Former Inca capital and the departure point for Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley. Its Centro Histórico brings together the Plaza de Armas, the cathedral and Inca walls built into colonial architecture. It concentrates the region's air, rail and road connections.
For lodging, the Centro Histórico around the Plaza de Armas offers the largest hotel concentration, from converted mansions to mid-range categories. San Blas, uphill, has an artisan and bohemian profile, with steep cobbled streets to weigh for passengers with luggage or reduced mobility.
Cusco sits at roughly 3400 m altitude. Plan for acclimatization on arrival, with light activity in the first hours; many itineraries overnight first in the lower Sacred Valley and keep Cusco for the end of the circuit.
Useful information
Access Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport (CUZ), about 5 km from the historic centre: 15-20 minute transfer. Daily connections from Lima plus regional flights.
Season Dry from May to September (clear days, cold nights); rains from November to March. Heavy demand in July-August and during Fiestas Patrias.
Currency · time · language Peruvian sol (PEN). UTC-5. Spanish and Quechua; English in the trade.
Altitude Cusco sits at around 3,400 m. We advise 1-2 acclimatisation nights or starting the circuit in the lower Sacred Valley. Hydrate, keep an easy pace and avoid alcohol on day one.
Operations Book trains and Machu Picchu entries well ahead (timed-slot quotas). Private airport transfers. Carry soles in cash for small purchases and tips.